Photographer of the Day

© J. Wesley Brown

J. Wesley Brown. LA based photographer.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

Rachel and Owl © Corey Arnold

Corey Arnold. He does a lot of work with Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel.

- Joel

Fuel City

My friend Ben Rector and I stopped by Fuel City for some tacos last Friday night. I had heard they were the best in Dallas, and possibly the best in Texas. We were not disappointed. The place has quite the atmosphere as well. Truck stop. Swimming pool. Woman selling corn (in a cup). Longhorn cattle in a pen. We both downed 5 tacos and headed to the Texas State Fair for more food and fun. The tacos were good, but the experience made them great.

- Joel

Anybody Want to Go?

There are quite a few good shows coming up in the Dallas area. Who's in?

9/29 - Iron & Wine (Sam Beam solo show) - Palladium Ballroom
9/30 - Cut Copy - Granada Theater
10/7 - Jonezetta - The Loft
10/11 - The Walkmen - House of Blues
10/21 - Girl Talk - Palladium Ballroom
10/23 - Cold War Kids - Lola's (Fort Worth)
10/28 - TV on the Radio - Lakewood Theater

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

Greeley © Andreas Gursky

Andreas Gursky. Quite a few of his photographs, including the one above, are part of the Broad Art Foundation's collection. Tiny reproductions don't do the images justice. In person, the photo above measures 82 x 103 inches. For you math majors, that's 6.8 feet tall and 8.6 feet wide. That's taller than me!

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

Smith-Corona © 2007, Cali Hobgood-Lemme

Cali Hobgood-Lemme. She takes black & white shots and then colors them in.

-Joel

Apparently Lil Wayne now blogs for ESPN The Magazine. He's from New Orleans but the Saints and Hornets are surprisingly absent from his list of his favorite teams. Check it out.

- Joel

Cut Copy

I've been meaning to get the new album by Cut Copy, In Ghost Colours, for a few months now. I was even in a record store the other day buying the new TV on the Radio album, but they didn't have any copies of Cut Copy in the store. Bummer. I'm still waiting to hear this song banging in a club, but I guess the DJ's aren't hip enough. You can listen to the track "Lights & Music" below.

- Joel

Plaza Art Fair

A few artists I saw at the Plaza Art Fair.

Jeffrey Zachmann - He made these crazy kinetic sculptures. I heard someone standing there refer to them as "Mouse Trap Art", because of the way the little balls roll all over the sculpture. He had one of the largest groups in and around his booth. Just seeing a picture doesn't do justice to what he does.

Marc Sijan - He makes the most lifelike sculptures I've ever seen. By far, he had the largest crowd gathered to see his work.

Bruce Peeso - He paints great landscapes. These probably stood out to me because they remind me of all the times I drove across Kansas as a boy. Plus, I'm a sucker for landscapes.

- Joel

New Music

Jenny Lewis dropped a new album this week. It's called Acid Tongue. I haven't bought it, but I hear her tongue isn't quite as acidic as in previous albums. But what do critics know? Here's a preview. Ben Gibbard was friendly enough to drop by Jenny's house with balloons.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Meggan Gould

Meggan Gould. These are digital pinholes.

- Joel

Soccer Night

Soccer Game © Joel Thomason

Two weeks ago I tagged along with a friend to her soccer game. Basically, I sat on the sideline and took pictures (mostly bad, blurry ones) while Cobra Kai FC dominated. It was a beautiful night in Dallas, one of the few amidst a hot summer. Here's a picture. That little speck to the left of the lights is the moon.
- Joel

Plaza Art Fair

Hampson, 2007 © Frank Relle

I had a chance to catch the Plaza Art Fair this weekend in Kansas City. Shout out to Cory and Abby (my brother and sister) for hanging in there with me, along with my parents. We all braved the heat and the crowds and it was definitely worth it. I got to see/meet quite a few great photographers and artists, many of which I'll be throwing up on the blog. Probably my favorite (other than the guy who made kinetic sculpture, more on him in a future blog) was Franke Relle. He's a New Orleans based photographer that does crazy nightscapes. The lights he uses make for wild colors that give his photography a painter-like quality. We'll call him the Photographer of the Day.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Amy Stein

Amy Stein. She also has some really interesting photos using taxidermied animals. Check that out here.

- Joel

Kansas City

© Joel Thomason

I'm in Kansas City for the weekend. Here are a few pictures I took with my Holga the last time I was here. More to come.
- Joel


© Joel Thomason

Taking a Trip

© Allison V. Smith

I'm flying to Kansas City this evening. My reading material for the trip will be On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I have read the book once but picked it up again after reading Kerouac's introduction to The Americans, Robert Frank's seminal collection of photography. But I had a thought as I was preparing for my trip. With the price of gas, the pace of life, and the relative ease of airline travel, is the quintessential road trip dying off? I know more friends who have taken cross-country trips on their bicycle in the past few years than friends who have embarked on road trips across the country (or even across regions of the country).

- Joel

P.S. Since first seeing it, the picture above (by Allison V. Smith) is what now pops into my head every time I think of road trips.

Ode to Little Debbie

In honor of Booker T.'s Little Debbie party yesterday....

It's a snack cake
For when I can't wait
To eat. Or maybe I'm just bored.
People do that you know.
Eat, when there's nothing to do,
Or nowhere to go.

But Little Debbie ain't the same.
She's the number 1 stunner
In the snack cake game.
Squares from the Devil.
Brownies from Outer Space.
You know it's not a party
Without Fudge Rounds in your face.
Oatmeal Creme Pies.
And the Buns with the Honey.
But watch your portions
Or the doctors get your money.

Because as good as she is
As great as she tastes,
Little Debbie is murder on the figure
She's killer on the waist.
But don't be alarmed.
Have no fear
You're still young
And you have a few years,
Before Debbie catches up
And you have to start running.
So enjoy it while it lasts,
And keep it trill youngin.

Photographer of the Day

Bob Dylan, Central Park, February 10, 1965 © Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon

- Joel

RIP TRL

Come November, MTV will be shutting down Total Request Live. I guess TRL didn't quite fit with the whole reality TV theme MTV has going. Where else will I go to view 45 second clips of music videos and lots of teenage girls packed into a crowded room?

Eminem had this to say, "I'm going to miss 'TRL.' ... Where else will I be able to start feuds, defend my honor vigorously and act like an angry teenager on national TV? Oh wait ... The VMAs!" Who knew Slim Shady was so witty and irreverent?

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Brian Harkin

Brian Harkin. A fellow Mizzou grad.

- Joel

New Version

Some photographers may not appreciate Kanye West after his recent violent episode involving a photographer and his camera. For the rest of you, there is a new version of Kanye's new track "Love Lockdown." Download it here. Only in the 21st century can you write a song, record the track, release it online, assault a photographer, rerecord the track, and release it again in the span of 3 weeks. Keep your love locked down Kanye or you'll be locked up.

- Joel

Free Music

I've mentioned The Republic Tigers on this blog before. They're from Kansas City and, as of today, they are the Free Download of the Week on iTunes. Check them out. I am certain you'll like the song. Plus, it's free.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

U.S. 91, leaving Blackfoot, Idaho. Copyright © Robert Frank

Robert Frank. It's quite the understatement to deem Robert Frank the Photographer of the Day considering many consider him to be the Photographer of the 20th Century. But I recently bought his book The Americans, so he's going up here.

- Joel

Spoiler Alert

I've had a few conversations about the movie The Sandlot over the past two weeks. It surprises me that some people have never seen this movie, though I've come to understand it's a generational thing. You can see the climax of the movie below. Unfortunately, this clip doesn't show Benny putting on his PF Flyers right before hopping the fence to pickle The Beast. The fact that I was 10 years old when this movie was released and loved baseball growing up may explain my lifelong fascination with PF Flyers. By the way, PF Flyers are back in fashion.
- Joel

After seeing Lil Wayne perform on national television each of the past two weekend (MTV's VMAs and Saturday Night Live), most of America is probably asking the same question: how does he manage to keep his pants from falling down? My guess...magnets.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Bobby Neptune

Bobby Neptune. Also, check out his organization Echolite Media.

- Joel

Shout outs

I had a chance to hang with a fun crew on Saturday, many of whom have blogs and/or websites of their own. Check them out below...

- Joel

Leila Grothe - The Prima Gallerina
Cassie Edmondson - BTW Photo Blog (I had to leave before Dylan and the rest of Booker T. crew rolled in but shout out to them)
Barry Whistler - Barry Whistler Gallery, Barry Whistler Gallery Blog (maintained by Leila)
Brian Gibb - Art Prostitute, Art Prostitute Gallery, The Public Trust
Allison V. Smith - allisonvsmith.com, Superficial Snapshots
Holly - Halz Haz A Say

Two other shout outs to people who may or may not have websites or blogs of their own...first to Jonathan (Leila's boyfriend) who withstood the peer pressure and went home rather than staying out for karaoke. Second, to the little boy sleeping on a table at the karaoke bar, who we affectionately named Joel. Oh and one more to Jeff and Nicole. I can't remember their last names but they are without a doubt one of the trillest married couples I've met here in Dallas.

Don't Forget

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Kevin Miyazaki

Kevin Miyazaki

The picture on the right reminds me of my grandparents' house in Dodge City, KS.

- Joel

Love Lockdown

Kanye got arrested today. Looks like he didn't keep his love locked down. Somehow love escaped, which prompted him to assault a photographer (actually more than one photographer). So listen to his new track here to make sure you don't do the same thing.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

2006 © Brian Adams

Brian Adams

- Joel

Ode to Booker T: A Remix

What's this elixir
Photo class calls fixer?

Drama floatin like humidity
Dylan promises the blog of the century.

Why must a class so trill
Be forced on hands and knees to drill?

Yeah, I'm calling you out Miss E.
You got a response better than "Get off me"?

But I won't hate, I won't clown.
I'll keep it like Kanye, keep my love locked down.

Because whether you're a fan or just off the street
You can't deny Booker T. brings non-stop HEAT.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

I Look Just Like My Daddy, 2003 ©Cass Bird

Cass Bird

- Joel

Lamps On A Wall ©Joel Thomason

You should read "Birches" by Robert Frost. It's a poem so it's short. Read it here. It is my all-time favorite poem. Here's one of my favorite lines:

One by one he subdued his father's trees
By riding them down over and over again
Until he took the stiffness out of them,
And not one but hung limp, not one was left
For him to conquer.

- Joel

Erich Nagler

Crowd, February 2004 ©Erich Nagler

Graphic Designer. Year 2000 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Check him out.

- Joel

Downtown Owl: A Novel

I can't seem to fall asleep tonight, so I'm up messing around on the internet...Chuck Klosterman has a new book and it's called Downtown Owl: A Novel. It just dropped (can you use the term "dropped" when referencing literature?) this month. Considering that I have loved most everything I have read of Klosterman's, this novel will be next on my reading list. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first fiction work by Klosterman. The best introduction to his work is Sex, Drugs, & Cocoa Puffs.

- Joel

Burn After Reading

Besides going to see the AVS show, I want to see this movie this weekend.

- Joel

I found out about a new blog today - Halz Has A Say - which led to a new music discovery. I'm obviously late on this one, considering that Halz posted this back on June 23, but better late than never. Here's what she wrote about this mixtape that lays The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds on top of J. Dilla beats:

UK producer Bullion fuses the The Beach Boy's Pet Sounds, and J Dilla's beats. I know it's been around awhile. For those who haven't heard it in its entirety, download this summer-friendly mix.

The mixtape is called Pet Sounds: In the Key of Dee and it is definitely worth a listen. Download it here. In the Key of Dee reminds me a lot of Danger Mouse's The Grey Album, but maybe not quite as coherent as The Grey Album. Summer may be on its way out, but the mixtape is definitely worth a run through. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is my jam off the tape. Definitely could be dropped at a club and get the hipsters bobbing their heads in their skinny jeans and Chucks.

Thanks to Halz for the heads up and thanks to Allison for introducing me to the Halz's blog.

- Joel

Hall Pass

I'm not sure how many people in the Dallas area actually read this blog, but I'm posting this anyway. I have an answer to your question, "What should I do on Saturday?" You should come check out Allison V. Smith's show Hall Pass opening at the Barry Whistler Gallery. There's a reception from 6-8pm and you can hang out, see some cool photography, and even meet Allison in the flesh (she's really fun). And no, it doesn't matter if you live in Dallas or not. Make the trip. I'm bringing a friend of mine from Oklahoma City. Come to Dallas. Hang out for the weekend. And go see Hall Pass.

FYI - this will be the first of a few posts this week imploring you to see the show. If nothing else, check out her website and her blog.

- Joel

Exhibit A

Kanye murdered it tonight at the VMAs, so did Wayne. Total side note, I think Wayne is a great rapper, not the greatest. The thing I loved about the performance was that is was unlike what I expected, not the back pack toting brash Kanye spitting out of the side of his mouth with more swagger than anyone else. But Kanye is a shunken suit with a broken heart glowing on his chest. Not only cool, but the dude is prolific.

dc

Memory Lane aka My iTunes Library

Enchanted Lighting.  August 2008 © Joel Thomason

I just got hired to DJ another wedding in December.  I had to work on the contract tonight which prompted me to run through my music and separate some of the better stuff into "Dinner" and "Dancing" lists.  Here are a few realizations I made while going through my music...

1. I LOVE Christmas.  Since the wedding is in December, I'll have a chance to bust out my extensive Christmas collection.  Is it weird that I get goosebumps just hearing snippets of Christmas songs?

2. Nothing works like oldies music to get the entire room out on the dance floor.  This time through my library, "September" by Earth, Wind, & Fire (see below), "Ventura Highway" by America, and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli jumped out at me.  Plus, you can never go wrong with The Beatles or The Beach Boys.

3. Everyone should periodically go through their iTunes library.  It's a great way to rediscover music you didn't realize you had.

4. "American Boy" by Estelle is effortlessly cool.

- Joel

New Cool Kids

The Cool Kids recently dropped a new track called "Delivery Man." It's not their best effort, but it's new so it's blogworthy. Listen to it below. Download it here.

- Joel

Dallas at Dusk

It's hard to catch a sunset from my place in the city. There is no horizon line when you're surrounded my buildings, houses, and trees. Here are some attempts with to catch a few with the Holga.

- Joel

The Rat

Here's a great old (circa 2004 so not that old) track from The Walkmen.  It's my favorite off their previous album Bows + Arrows.  This live performance comes courtesy of Pitchfork Media's "Life from Juan's Basement."  If you haven't already, check out The Walkmen's newest album You & Me.

- Joel

Banksy Tags New Orleans

My new friend Allison and I had a conversation yesterday about Banksy, the mysterious British graffiti artist, and his post-Katrina grafitti around the city of New Orleans. Now, post-Gustav, the nation's attention is once more drawn to the Gulf Coast and the city of New Orleans. The grafitti is pretty nuts (as in really cool). Check it out. Here is Banksy's website. His stuff is already cool but becomes exponentially cooler given that no one knows who Banksy is.

Also, people are in the process of taking photos for the Yer City's A Sucker Photo Challenge. You should too.

- Joel

I'm Just Saying

These are the two coolest dudes in the world.

dc